In the summer of 2013, I went on my fifth middle school mission trip. It was my seventh Serve in the past five years and my eighth overall. Why do I keep going?
As someone who struggles with energy on a regular basis, I can honestly say that a Serve experience is one of the highlights of my year. The youth are so full of the Spirit during that week that it’s contagious. Between working together, praising together, playing games together, the energy and spirit that is passed on is truly God-given.
At one middle school Serve we met a woman who, along with her husband, had adopted two South American children. They were then blessed with their own, which was not supposed to be possible. Her husband suddenly passed away when their son was only eight months old, leaving her with three kids, and a family farm. Our theme that year was Shalom, Peace No Matter What, and as someone who could have turned her back on God, she felt blessed by God and the community. What an awesome spirit. I was blessed to go back the following year to help get her new house ready to move in, and now as her Facebook friend have witnessed her finding new love and remarrying. God is great.
Friendship Christian Reformed Church in Byron Center, Michigan is a phenomenal Host Team and never fails to make us feel welcome, bring wonderful praise and worship, and great sites that allow us to learn and grow in God.
By the way, I will be attending my ninth and tenth Serve during the summer of 2014!
